Out of the past 3/28/11

25 years ago: March 28, 1986

After serving only 14 months of a four-year term, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff Dwight Thomas resigned yesterday in the wake of a grand jury investigation; Thomas handed his badge over to his successor, Norman W. Copeland, a 28-year veteran with the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Veteran Southeast Missourian reporter, photographer and business writer G.D. "Frony" Fronabarger has retired from the newspaper; Fronabarger had been with the Missourian since 1927.

50 years ago: March 28, 1961

The number of candidates for school director at next week's election is raised to five by the filing of the name of Charles E. Stiver by a friend.

A movement that could ultimately result in the closing of the gap in the Mississippi River floodwall on North Main is under consideration by government officials; if approved, it would result in condemnation proceedings being filed to determine benefits and damages to be assessed property within the North Main Street Improvement District.

75 years ago: March 28, 1936

A large "Closed" sign hangs on the door of the relief office on Water Street; eight months of direct relief, with the federal government and the state relief commission putting up the bulk of money, have ended; in the future, no aid will be given families except food that Uncle Sam has promised to distribute in those counties that bear the local expenses.

J.W. Gerhardt of Gerhardt Construction Co. Inc. is awarded the contract to erect the new 40-room Hotel Marquette annex.

100 years ago: March 28, 1911

A number of Cape Girardeau women became charter members of the PEO yesterday when a new charter was presented for the local order; among them are Mrs. L.W. Morton, Mrs. T.F. Lane, Mrs. John Sackman, and Mmes. Waters, Kinder, Thrasher, Fletcher, Sherwood and Nussbaum.

A new church will be built in South Cape by members of the Methodist church living in that neighborhood; it will overlook the Mississippi River on land donated to the congregation by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Houck; it will be known as the Giboney Avenue Methodist Church.

-- Sharon K. Sanders